Dan Barr
04-02-2008, 12:34 PM
I'm just curious as to how many of you go to what extent when restoring an old plane that you've found or bought.
I know i only go as far as getting the plane into good working condition for the ones that I plan on using.
As for the few others that warrant a "full" restoration, I have bought none of those yet, nor been lucky enough to find one that I would spend that much time on.
My latest plane is a stanley #4 frankenplane. :D i got it at an antique store and thought it was somewhere near a type nine. only to find out it was a type thirteen body with a type nine lever cap, unknown tote and knob with a cracked brass knurled nut on the tote.
I retored it to the point of "good working condition" which I will expound upon.
What I did:
-i took it all apart, scrubbed with mineral spirits and wire brush.
-coated all metal and rusted spots with naval jelly, rinsed, dried and hit those pieces with a wire wheel.
-honed the chipbreaker for a nice even flat edge
-honed and flattened the iron to include a camber
-lapped the sole and sides of the body just enough to remove the majority of the scratches. and to verify I was flat enough at the toe, mouth and heel in order to produce good work. (i dont mess with soles too much as I am no metal worker and that's more effort than required usually.)
-i verified flatness on the sole in all directions with a starrett straight edge and found it to be in fine condition after lapping. ( it was in good enough condition prior to lapping but i wanted it to be clean and smooth.)
What I didnt do:
-replace the tote and knob to match the type
-replace the blade, chipbreaker or lever cap
-add or alter paint
-replace the cracked knurled nut on the tote (still functional)
-alter the mouth (not necessary)
I'm using this plane as my primary smoother because i just dont want to spend the money on a LN #4 1/2 right now.
just looking to see what par is for the course in bringing a tool up to good working condition.
Thanks,
dan
I know i only go as far as getting the plane into good working condition for the ones that I plan on using.
As for the few others that warrant a "full" restoration, I have bought none of those yet, nor been lucky enough to find one that I would spend that much time on.
My latest plane is a stanley #4 frankenplane. :D i got it at an antique store and thought it was somewhere near a type nine. only to find out it was a type thirteen body with a type nine lever cap, unknown tote and knob with a cracked brass knurled nut on the tote.
I retored it to the point of "good working condition" which I will expound upon.
What I did:
-i took it all apart, scrubbed with mineral spirits and wire brush.
-coated all metal and rusted spots with naval jelly, rinsed, dried and hit those pieces with a wire wheel.
-honed the chipbreaker for a nice even flat edge
-honed and flattened the iron to include a camber
-lapped the sole and sides of the body just enough to remove the majority of the scratches. and to verify I was flat enough at the toe, mouth and heel in order to produce good work. (i dont mess with soles too much as I am no metal worker and that's more effort than required usually.)
-i verified flatness on the sole in all directions with a starrett straight edge and found it to be in fine condition after lapping. ( it was in good enough condition prior to lapping but i wanted it to be clean and smooth.)
What I didnt do:
-replace the tote and knob to match the type
-replace the blade, chipbreaker or lever cap
-add or alter paint
-replace the cracked knurled nut on the tote (still functional)
-alter the mouth (not necessary)
I'm using this plane as my primary smoother because i just dont want to spend the money on a LN #4 1/2 right now.
just looking to see what par is for the course in bringing a tool up to good working condition.
Thanks,
dan